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Meet a Middle Grade Author

Meet B. Random: Author of the Mrax series

Tell us about your books

They’re thriller sci-fi fantasy adventures for children aged nine and over, written to be movies!

B. Random’s Mrax series

Which books did you enjoy growing up?

Books that took me to another place – Douglas Adams, Brian Jacques, Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert, Ursula LeGuin, Anne McCaffrey.

What inspired you to write your books?

I wanted to invite my readers into my wild imagination, send them into orbit.

Where is your favorite place to read?

A sun-lounger on an empty beach!

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Mess! I love to paint wildlife and weird creatures.

What did you learn when you were writing your first book?

I loved writing as a child but studied creative writing for years before I felt ready to begin. I learned it takes a long time to get an idea from the first paragraphs to the final product, a lot of re-writing and self-doubt. Enjoy every form of writing and experiment. Poetry can be a useful tool. Other writers make wonderful friends and give you the confidence to carry on. 

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to write or be an artist. I’m living the dream!

What is a writing tip for aspiring authors?

Study creative writing and make friends. Write in movie scenes. Uplift your readers. Enjoy!

You can find B. Random online:

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Meet a Middle Grade Author

Meet A.Y. Johlin: Author of ‘The Girl Who Wasn’t Chosen’

Tell us about your books

The Girl Who Wasn’t Chosen is a twist on the classic chosen one trope packed with glowing wolves, a phoenix, and lots of adventure! It follows twelve-year-old Leda Roubis who desperately wants to be a hero but isn’t chosen by her country’s prophet. However, when a terrible accident strikes her village and the real chosen one fails to stop it, Leda sets out to be the hero her village needed all along.

Which books did you enjoy growing up?

The Lightning Thief and basically anything written by Rick Riordan. I was a big fan of middle grade fantasy books with a funny voice, adventure, and lots of magic.

What inspired you to write ‘The Girl Who Wasn’t Chosen’?

When I was in middle school, I always felt really insecure about the fact that I wasn’t particularly talented or special at anything, especially since most of the books I read featured protagonists that were musical prodigies or geniuses. So, I wanted to write a book about a character who was completely ordinary like me but saved the day anyways.

Where is your favorite place to read?

Outside under a tree, although I don’t get the chance to do it as often as I’d like. My childhood home has a giant hundred-year-old tree that is incredible to read under on a warm summer day.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love singing and playing the piano, sometimes at the same time.

What did you learn when you were writing your book?

So much! The Girl Who Wasn’t Chosen is the second novel I’ve ever written and the first one I’ve ever published. There was a very big learning curve when it came to both getting better at revising the book and first learning to publish it.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

A veterinarian. My local zoo had a summer camp that I attended a lot as a kid, so I became very passionate about animals from a young age.

What is a writing tip for aspiring authors?

Honestly, just keep going. Sometimes your dreams can feel very far off or like your writing is going nowhere but if you keep going it’ll eventually work out in the end.

You can find A.Y Johlin online in these places:

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Meet a Middle Grade Author

Meet L.B. Anne: Author of diverse chapter books

Tell us about your books

I write diverse chapter books for ages 6-14.

Which books did you enjoy growing up?

I read everything Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary wrote.

What is your favorite food or foods?

I love mocha iced coffee, pizza, and cupcakes. I’m a foodie. I’ll try just about anything that isn’t seafood.

What inspired you to write your books?

I wanted readers to see characters in every genre that looked like them, so I write all types of books with diverse characters. I wrote my most recent novel, Five Things About Dragonflies, because I was interested in the story of runaway slaves and Seminole Indians in 1812 Spanish Florida. It’s a great way to take young readers back in time and spark conversations.

Where is your favorite place to read?

I’ll read anywhere. I don’t really have a favorite place. I mostly read before bed.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I like fitness and I’m a movie buff.

What did you learn when you were writing your first book?

I learned to take the advice of those who have come before you. They know what they’re talking about.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be a teacher or a truck driver. I have no idea where the whole truck driver thing came from other than I loved being on the road.

You can find L.B Anne in these places online:

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Meet a Middle Grade Author

Meet M.L. Tarpley: Author of Tales of a Travel Girl series

Tell us about your books

I write stories of adventure, friendship, and fun that transport kids to amazing places across the world. The Tales of a Travel Girl series follows 10-year-old Maylie Montes on an inspirational trip across Europe filled with the shenanigans of her zany family and the mishaps of her overactive imagination. The series is for ages 8-12 (grades 3-5) and fans of the Middle School series by James Patterson, The Tapper Twins series by Geoff Rodkey, and the Melanie Martin series by Carol Weston. The first book in the series is MAYLIE AND THE MAZE, which released in October 2020, followed by book two, MAYLIE’S LUCK OF THE IRISH, which is set in Ireland, and the third book, MAYLIE OF THE HIGHLANDS, is set in Scotland.

Which books did you enjoy growing up?

My favorite book as a child was definitely “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster. It’s a quirky and imaginative read with equally quirky and imaginative illustrations. I always longed for a little car and tollbooth that I could drive through and off on an amazingly strange adventure. I also loved “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” by Richard and Florence Atwater, the Babysitters Club series by Ann M. Martin and so many others.

What inspired you to write your book series?

The idea for the Tales of a Travel Girl series started several years ago with the idea of a young American girl who travels around the world. Right away, I knew the first book would be set in England because the book had to feature a maze I visited there at Leeds Castle. Throughout this series, I want kids to have a chance to travel the world through fiction and learn along the way. I’ve tapped into my own first-hand experiences from traveling to over a dozen countries and filtered them through Maylie’s eyes. I also wanted to write a book that could by enjoyed by kids and grown-ups a like, especially as a fun bedtime read!

Where is your favorite place to read?

My favorite place to read is either in my cozy bed or on the couch. I just want to be comfortable when I read.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I absolutely love history, which in turn fuels my love for researching genealogy. That’s one pastime I enjoy when I have time. I also really love to travel the world especially the United Kingdom. I’m always dreaming of where I’d like to travel to next whether in person or in fiction. I also enjoy acting and singing.

What did you learn when you were writing your first book?

The research for the first Maylie book consisted of scouring the Leeds Castle website for any interesting nuggets of information I could find. I also spent a lot of time on London tourist attractions’ official websites. But, overall, in my research I learned a lot about mazes! I absolutely fell in love with the hedge maze at Leeds Castle when I visited there, but I didn’t know much about them and grottos too. It’s interesting! I think the funniest tidbit I came across about the Leeds Castle maze was that its creator even got lost in it! How funny is that! Ha. I’m sure he was embarrassed. The most interesting aspect was the design of the maze and its grotto. When viewed from its center, it forms a queen’s crown, which is fitting because several queens stayed at the castle. A grotto is a small cave that can form naturally along a coastline. In this case, a grotto is a man-made cave-like structure that has been popular as pieces of interests in gardens for hundreds of years. For more information, visit www.leeds-castle.com

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Ever since I could hold a pencil or pen, I’ve always been a writer. It started with scribbles that were in no way words on paper, but I’d point to them and read what it said aloud. I would make up stories and create little books out of them. The first time though I really considered becoming an author was when an actual author came to my school when I was nine. I thought, “Hey! She’s a real author, and I can be one someday too!”

What is a writing tip for aspiring authors?

Don’t give up. Even if that first paragraph, page, or draft is awful. Even if you get rejections. Even if you don’t final in that contest. Keep going! Keep putting words on the page. Keep reading new releases in your genre. Keep learning more about the writing craft. You can do it!

You can find M.L. Tarpley online:

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Meet a Middle Grade Author

Meet Caron Pescatore: Author of the Kids’ Court Whodunit series

Tell us about your books

I write a series entitled A Kid’s Court Whodunit. The books are a combination of courtroom drama and mystery. My kids describe them as Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew meets Judge Judy. 🤣🤣 The main character, Luana, is the daughter of two attorneys. In the first book, she has the idea to start a kids’ court to resolve an argument between twin siblings over what destroyed a beloved doll. Like real courts, the Kids’ Court has a judge, bailiff, court reporter, and other staff. They are a quirky bunch, and there’s a lot of laughs in the stories.

In the first book in the series, The Doll Dilemma, Luana represents the brother during the trial, accused of destroying the doll. Witnesses are called to court to give evidence against him by his sister’s lawyer. Through cross-examination of each witness and examination of other evidence produced in court, Luana and her best pal, Phoebe, solve the mystery of what did happen to the doll. The Kids’ Court resolves a dispute between two children through a trial in each subsequent book, and Luana solves the mystery of what happened.

Which books did you enjoy growing up?

I have always been a voracious reader. Growing up in Jamaica, there wasn’t much to do during the summer holidays other than roam around my neighborhood with friends or read. We had only one TV station, and it didn’t “sign on” until five o’clock in the evening. And, of course, there was no internet or even computers back then. I loved all types of books, but I especially loved the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series.

What is your favorite food or foods?

Hmm that’s a hard one. I love Jamaican food, of course. But I wouldn’t describe myself as a foodie. I do love English chocolate.

Tell us about your pets

Alas I have no pets, much to the disgust of my children. 😳🙄🤣

What inspired you to write your book series?

I’ve always loved writing. My first independent writing assignment was a play in elementary school. I spent one summer pounding it out on an old manual typewriter of my mother’s. Then in high school, I co-wrote a story with a friend. We’d take turns taking the story home and adding to it. It was such fun reading what she added each week, as it was very like reading a book where you had no idea what was going to happen next. I always thought I’d write adult fiction, though.

I developed an interest in kids’ books when I became a mother. I read a lot with my children—my son and I still read together every night. The idea for my first book came from a comment my husband casually tossed out. He said, “you’re a lawyer. Write a book about a kid lawyer.” Two days later, I had the idea for The Doll Dilemma. Since then, I have written seven books in the series. So far, I’ve only published three. Another three will be out this year—in the spring, summer, and fall.

Where is your favorite place to read?

There’s a shady area on my front porch where I like to sit and read. It’s so peaceful.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I’m a bit of a homebody, unfortunately. At least, it’s unfortunate as far as my daughter is concerned. 😂 I adore binge-watching TV series and particularly enjoy true-crime programs such as 48 Hours and Dateline, among others. I also enjoy creating personalized plaques. I make up verses and paint designs on them.

What did you learn when you were writing book series?

Writing is an ongoing process. There is no such thing as perfect. You have to get to a point where you’re satisfied. When I read my work, I can’t see it as a whole product. I see it as the individual words that make up the whole, so I’m always picking it apart. It used to frustrate me no end, but now that I understand what’s happening, I’ve learned to accept it.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

A doctor or lawyer.

What is a writing tip for aspiring authors?

Write. That’s it. If you want to write, then do it. There will always be an excuse not to. You also have to read a lot to be a good writer—especially in whatever genre you’re writing.

You can find Caron online:

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Meet a Middle Grade Author

Meet Nadishka Aloysius: Author of Yes we can + lots of other books!

Tell us about your books

I write for a variety of age groups. My middle grade books are Yes We Can, That Easter Sunday, and Ronan’s Dinosaur. That Easter Sunday won Best Children’s Literature at the State Literary Awards last year. All my books are set in my home country of Sri Lanka and can therefore be used to enhance multicultural reading habits in children.

Which books did you enjoy growing up?

Mystery stories!

What is your favorite food or foods?

Chocolate, cheese, and coffee

What inspired you to write your books?

That Easter Sunday is based on a true event – the bombing of three churches in 2019. It’s a sad story but also about faith, hope, and resilience. The story is narrated by Vibhu a little church mouse.

That East Sunday was written by Nadishka to help children in Sri Lanka understand and cope with the tragic Easter Sunday Bomb attacks. All of the profits from this book have benefited the victims of the Easter Sunday Attacks who are still in need of assistance. It was also the winner of Best Children’s Novel State Literary Awards 2021.

Ronan’s Dinosaur was inspired by my own son’s struggles to overcome anxiety. Be warned though – it’s magical realism in style!

Ronan’s Dinosaur is about dealing with anxiety

Yes We Can is a collection of short stories which I hope will empower young girls.

Where is your favorite place to read?

In bed

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Reading of course!

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Be rich and famous… still getting there

What is a writing tip for aspiring authors?

Daydream. Let your thoughts fly. And always have a notebook at hand to jot your crazy ideas down!

You can find Nadishka online:

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Meet a Middle Grade Author

Meet Jaz Laverick: Author of Eirlings

Tell us about your book

All her life, Abigail has felt like a disappointment. Her magic, if it even is magic, is different and strange, and it causes her nothing but heartache. Every famous university and court mage this side of the Capital has tested her… but she can’t even light a candlestick! Are the things she sees just figments of her imagination? Is Abigail simply mad? She’s left with one final test to find out for certain: the common city guild test. Dive into the first Abigail Tally novel, where gods, spirits, and catkings bandy about, where magic, murder, and sleuthing are a walk in the district — and a healthy bit of sassy commentary never killed anyone… yet.

Which books did you enjoy growing up?

Dealing with Dragons and Alanna the First Adventure were the first books I chose to take out of the Library on my own choice. Anything by Tamora Pierce and Diana Wynne Jones’ and Patricia C Wrede and Garth Nix and Mercedes Lackey and I was thrilled to get my hands on it! I also still have all the Dr. Seuss books from my childhood.

What are your favorite foods?

I love sushi and Japanese foods. Butter chicken is my comfort food. I enjoy hosting hotpot fish soup nights with lamb and pork and fish balls!

Tell us about your pets

I have had cats all my life but I’m currently sadly without.

What inspired you to write your book series?

I have dreams that last a lifetime. They all start with an unlikely young boy or girl hero and follow them through a lifetime of adventure. Ever since I was 10, I’d write them down. These became full novels that I’d write in my spare time. I first created an entire chapter by chapter plot project with everything that happens. A book to write a book. One day, after I was writing down the climax of a 60,000 word novel … My laptop died. It was dead dead. I lost everything and I was distraught, so what did I do? I sat down and wrote about Abigail Tally, which became Eirlings. No plans. No plot outline. I just sat and wrote. It was kind of magical really – it was like I was reading a book, not writing it. Abigail Tally was a friend in a very hard time in my life. She was a fun and enjoyable and emotional read that uplifted my heart. It was the reason I was so open to share and publish the book – I loved it so much I wanted others to enjoy it too.

Where is your favorite place to read?

The bath! Or better, a bubble bath.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I sing and play the harp and read books.

Here’s the proof! Jaz playing the harp.

What did you learn when you were writing this book?

Writing Abigail’s story taught me that I could write a story from imagination. It was a wonderful discovery.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Be a singer/song writer.

What is a writing tip for aspiring authors? It’s ok if you need a few days break. Writing should be fun and fulfilling and enjoyable. It won’t always be, but that too is ok.

You can find Jaz online in these places:

Website

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Jaz’s book

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Meet a Middle Grade Author

Meet Monica Sherwood: Author of The Ice House

Tell us about your book

The Ice House is my first book and it was released in November. It tells the story of Louisa, who has been snowed into her apartment building for months due to a climate event. Her neighbor and former close friend, Luke, is the only kid her age around. The new realities of this climate disaster have not only affected Louisa’s family, but when Luke’s dad has an ice-related accident and it’s unclear if he’ll recover, both families’ lives are turned upside down. Desperate to find an escape from the grief plaguing their homes, Louisa and Luke build a massive snow fort in their yard. But their creation opens up an otherworldly window to what could lie ahead, and sets them on a mission: to restore the universe to its rightful order, so the ice will melt and life will return to “normal”.

Which books did you enjoy growing up?

Some of my favorites were The Westing Game, Little Women, Ramona Quimby, Junie B. Jones.

Tell us about your pets

I recently welcomed my puppy Mungo into my life – my first pet! He is a very sweet and playful puppy who keeps me very busy.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Visit museums, try new restaurants and coffee shops in Brooklyn, illustrate, and take walks with my puppy.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

So many things! At different times a gymnast, a baker, an artist, an interior designer, a teacher, and a writer. I’ve been a teacher and a writer so far 🙂

What is a writing tip for aspiring authors?

Cultivate patience and persistence. Writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint, and as a very impatient person it’s been a great opportunity for me to practice patience. Write as often as you can for as long as you can – sometimes that means hours a day, while other weeks it might be a few half hour bursts. Be patient with yourself and remember that your book has value; you are the only one who can write with your unique voice and perspective.

Monica’s process for writing The Ice House

You can find Monica online in these places:

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Meet a Middle Grade Author

Meet Rae Knightly: Author of the Alien Skills Series

Tell us about your books

I write science-fiction adventure for teenagers. “THE ALIEN SKILL SERIES” is an award-winning 6-book series about a boy who goes on the run with the sole alien survivor of a UFO crash. “THE KNOWLEDGE SEEKER” is a YA dystopian novel about a teen who lives 600 years into the future and is tasked with saving 21st century knowledge.

Which books did you enjoy growing up?

Earthdark by Monica Hughes, The Ice People by Rene Barjavel, Stranger With My Face by Lois Duncan, The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo

What are your favorite foods?

My favorite foods are: chicon au gratin, pollo con mole poblano, scones with rooibos tea, steelhead with garlic and soja sauce, fettucine a la carbonara – to name a few. Now look those up. Would you eat them? 🙂

Tell us about your pets

I have one jealous cat who keeps interrupting my Zoom calls.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Go for walks and take pictures.

What did you learn when you were writing your first book?

Trust your imagination!

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be an astronomer or an archaeologist. 🙂

What is a writing tip for aspiring authors?

1. Write one page per day – constantly. 2. Your book doesn’t have to please all readers. Find your tribe.

You can find Rae online:

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Meet a Middle Grade Author

Meet Lehua Parker: Author of the Niuhi Shark Saga

Tell us about your books

The Niuhi Shark Saga trilogy is about two brothers growing up in Hawai’i. Jay is a surfing star who is everyone’s buddy. Zader is the odd one who’s allergic to water. One drop on his skin burns like lava. Zader’s allergies make life difficult for him, and he’s often the target of bullies. But there is more to his allergies than meet the eye, and through the series Zader discovers who he really is what his destiny could be. Deeply embedded in authentic Hawaiian culture and mythology, the Niuhi Shark Saga is a series with island kids and their lived experiences at the center of the story.

Which books did you enjoy growing up?

I love all kinds of fantasy, mystery, and science fiction stories. Some of my favorites were the Narnia books, A Wrinkle in Time, and the Three Investigators books.

What is your favorite food or foods?

I love all kinds of Hawaiian and islander food. Some of my favorite dishes are kalua pork, poi, malasadas, and manapua.

Bo

Tell us about your pets

I have two new aussiedoodle puppies. We got them at Christmas and they are littermates. The grey striped one is called Sam and the black one is called Bo. They were both named after Kung Fu action stars, Sammo Hung and Bolo Yeung. They are very young, but super smart. They can sit, roll over, dance, lay down, spin, crawl, and play dead! It takes about three treats and ten minutes to teach them a new trick.

Sam

What inspired you to write your book series?

Growing up in Hawai’i, we spent all of our time in the ocean. I had the idea to write a series loosely inspired by the Hawaiian legend of Nanaue, a person who could take the form of a shark. I wrote from my experiences surfing, kite flying, studying martial arts and hula, dealing with bullies, and the power of friendship and wonder. Hawai’i is a place where the unseen is part of daily life, and I wanted to capture that along with ideas about what is family and destiny. I wanted to write stories that I wished existed when I was a kid looking for stories about my friends, family, and culture.

What is a writing tip for aspiring authors?

Read everything–the good, the meh, and the truly awful–and learn to tell the difference. Write the story you want to tell in your own voice using the language of your heart. The world needs all kinds of voices. Go for it!

You can find Lehua online in these places:

Website

FaceBook

Instagram

Twitter